Retarded bomb fuze

ABSTRACT

A RETARDED BOMB FUZE WHICH REQUIRES A FIRST ARMING ACTUATION FOR CHARGING A BANK OF XAPACITORS, ONE OF THE CAPACITORS BEING COUPLED THROUGH AN RC NETWORK AND A ZENER DIODE TO A BELLOWS MOTOR FOR PAYING-OUT A TETHERED SWITCH, A SECOND CAPACITOR OPERATES THROUGH AN RCX TIME BUILD-UP TO OPERATE A SECONE BELLOWS MOTOR FOR ENABLING A THIRD AND FOURTH CIRCUIT, A THIRD CAPACITOR DISCHARGES THROUGH AN RC TIME NETWORK TO OPERATE A THIRD BELLOWS MOTOR WHICH ACTS AS A TIME-DELAY DESTRUCT SHOULD OTHER FIRING SIGNALS FAIL, AND A TETHERED ALL-ATTITUDE IMPACT SWITCH COMPRISING TWO HEMISPHERICALLY-SHAPED WEIGHTS SEPARATED BY A FLEXIBLE INSULATOR FOR ACTUATING THE FIRING SQUIB UPON IMPACT, AND A SECOND RELEASING SWITCH FOR PHYSICALLY RELEASING THE BOMB AFTER THE PLURALITY OF CAPACITORS HAVE BEEN CHARGED.

Nov. 23, 1971 H. M. SUMRALL RETARDED BOMB FUZE Filed Feb. 9, 1970 INVENTOR. HOWELL M. SUMRALL WA M United States Patent Olfice 3,621,783 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 U.S. Cl. 102-702 R 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A retarded bomb fuze which requires a first arming actuation for charging a bank of capacitors; one of the capacitors being coupled through an RC network and a Zener diode to a bellows motor for paying-out a tethered switch; a second capacitor operates through an RC time build-up to operate a second bellows motor for enabling a third and fourth circuit; a third capacitor discharges through an RC time network to operate a third bellows motor which acts as a time-delay destruct should other firing signals fail, and a tethered all-attitude impact switch comprising two hemispherically-shaped weights separated by a flexible insulator for actuating the firing squib upon impact, and a second releasing switch for physically releasing the bomb after the plurality of capacitors have been charged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a retarded bomb fuze and more particularly to a retarded bomb fuze requiring two discrete operations by the operator for arming the fuze and releasing the bomb.

According to the invention, a plurality of capacitors is provided which are coupled for charging to an arming switch operated by the bomb release operator, such as the pilot, for example. A solenoid-operated bomb release mechanism is coupled to a second switch which must also be operated by the operator for releasing the bomb phys ically. The plurality of charged capacitors are then, after the bomb is released, coupled to suitable charging circuits for the firing of the detonator and coupled to an all-attitude impact switch. Hence, it is necessary for the operator; i.e., pilot or bombadier, to discretely perform two functions to elfect the releasing of the bomb itself and the charging of the capacitors for arming the bomb fuze. This essentially obviates any possibility of an accidental release and subsequent detonation of an armed bomb.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved retarded bomb fuze.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bomb fuze requiring a plurality of discrete operations for the release and detonation of the bomb.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved retarded bomb fuze utilizing a novel all-attitude impact switch.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an improved bomb fuze which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is extremely reliable in operation.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an improved all-attitude switch which is extremely reliable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Yet another object of the invention is to positively delay fuze activation until the bomb is physically separated from delivery aircraft by a safe distance.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals l designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially sectioned of the all-attitude switch of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation in schematic form of the allattitude impact switch of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, an input voltage is coupled to terminal 11 which is coupled to terminal 12 of drop switch 13 and through resistance 14 to contact 16 of arming switch 17. Drop switch 13 has push-button contact 18 shorting contact 12 and contact 19 together. Contact 19 of drop switch 13 is coupled through drop solenoid 21 to ground. Linkages 24a and 21a are actuated by solenoids 24 and 21, respectively. Bus bar 26 is electrically connected to switch arm 22 and by sliding contacts to one side of capacitors 27, 28, 29 and 30. Bus bar 31 is connected to sliding contacts 32, 33, 34, 35a, 36 and 36a. Bus bars 26 and 31 are held mechanically captive within movable linkage 24a which is interlocked with the bomb linkage 24b and inserted, but not locked, into the external linkage 240. The other side of capacitors 27, 28, 29 and 30 are coupled together and to ground sliding contact 32 and bus bar 31.

Contact 33 is coupled through resistance 37 to one side of capacitor 38 and through Zener diode 39 to bellows motor 41. Sliding contact 34 is coupled through resistance 42 to one side of capacitor 43 and through Zener diode 44 to bellows motor 46. Sliding contact 35 is coupled through contact 47 of bellows 46 to resistance 48 and sliding contact 35a is coupled to Zener diode 51. The other side of resistance 48 is coupled to one side of capacitor 49 and through Zener diode 51 to bellows motor 52.

a Sliding contact 36 is coupled through contact 53 of bellows 46 and through contact 54 of bellows 52 to one side of capacitor 56, and sliding contact 3611 is coupled directly to firing squib 58. All-attitude impact switch 59 is coupled by coaxial tetherline 60 around winch-drum 60a across contact 54 of bellows motor 52. The other side of bellows motor 41, 46 and 52 and firing squib 58 and the other side of capacitors 38, 43, 49, and 56 are all coupled together and to ground through sliding contact 32 and bus bar 31. Detonator 61 is coupled to bellows motor 46 which translates it from a safety position (shown) to a position where it may be fired by fast acting firing squib 58.

Referring to FIG. 2, the all-attitude impact switch 59 of FIG. 1 is shown in mechanical detail. An outer shell 59a surrounds modified hemispheres 59b and 590 which are electrically conductive and are joined by flexible insulative coupling 64. A plastic insulator 66 separates the modified hemispheres 59b and 590 from the outer shell 59a. External leads 67 from coaxial tether line 60 are coupled to conductive quadrispheres 62 and 63 of modified hemispheres 59b and 590, respectively. Arms 68 and 69 resulting from cut-away sections of the hemispheres being mounted at a rotary separation, insure an eccentric center of gravity for the entire unit. Contact areas 71 and 71a on modified hemisphere 590 are in proximity to contact areas (not shown) on modified hemisphere 59b upon impact.

Referring to FIG. 3, the impact switch 59 is shown schematically having two contact areas 71 separated by flexible insulative coupling 64 with arms 69 and 68 adjacent to the edges of quadrispheres 62 and 63, respectively. External leads 67 are again shown coupled to quadrispheres 62 and 63.

OPERATION Referring back to FIG. 1, the switches and circuitry are shown in their quiescent condition; i.e., prior to any action on the part of the operator in setting and releasing the bomb. All of the components beneath the external linkage 240 are located in the bomb fuze, itself, including bus bars 26 and 31. The first actuating switch thrown by the operator is switch 17, which connects switch arm 22 to terminal 16 supplying voltage from terminal 11 through bus bar 26 to one side of capacitors 27, 28, 29 and 30. At this time, capacitors 27, 28, 29 and 30 will begin charging from ground through bus bar 31 and contact 32 to the other side of the capacitors. Also at this time, when the capacitors 27, 28, 29 and 30 have reached substantially their full charge, solenoid 24 is actuated and movable linkage 24a is unlocked from bomb linkage 24b while being simultaneously locked into external linkage 240.

When the operator depresses push-button 18, solenoid 21 is actuated releasing lock arm 21a which allows the bomb to drop removing linkage 24a, solenoid 24 and bus bars 26 and 31 from the circuit. At this time, the ground is removed from contact 32, contact 33 is connected to one side of capacitor 27, contact 34 is connected to one side of capacitor 28, contact 35 is connected to one side of capacitor 29 and contact 36 is connected to one side of capacitor 30. Contacts 35a and 36a, which have grounded bellows motor 52 and firing squib 58, are open. The contacts are all effected by spring-loaded action. Capacitors 38 and 43 will then begin charging through resistances 37 and 42. When the Zener voltage is reached on Zener diodes 39 and 44, bellows motors 41 and 46 will actuate. Actually, resistance 42 has a larger ohmic value than resistance 37, allowing tether line 60 to pay out prior to closing of contact 53 obviating any possibility of a premature detonation caused by a closing of impact switch 59 as it reaches the end of the pay-out. Bellows motor 41 extends the tether line 60 by means of drum 60a and bellows motor 46 closes contacts 47 and 53 and moves detonator 61 in operable proximity to firing squib 58. At this time, capacitor 49 will begin charging through resistance 48, and, again, when the Zener voltage is reached on Zener diode 51, bellows motor 52 will operate closing contact 54. When contact 54 is closed, capacitor 56 will reach a rapid charge since there is no resistance in its path. Firing squib 58 will operate, which activates detonator 61 detonating the bomb. Should the bomb impact prior to completion of the RC time delay of bellows motor 46 circuit or should all-attitude impact switch 59 fail to close; i.e., cushioned drop into tree top, then the longer clean-up RC time delay of bellows motor 52 circuit will provide alternate closure across switch 54 and explode bomb to prevent enemy salvaging of useful materials.

Hence, it can be seen that two discrete operations are necessary by the operator; i.e., the throwing of switches 17 and 13 before an armed bomb can be released. This substantially obviates the possibility of an accidental release by the operator in an armed condition. The

4 several fai1safe features substantially obviates any possibility of a dud.

Referring to FIG. 3, the construction of all-attitude impact switch 59 is shown. As can be seen, due to the partial sectioning resulting in the arms 68 and 69 and their positioning with of rotation, the switch is completely eccentric; i.e., the center of gravity is not in the center. Hence, at any angle of impact, the contact areas 71 or 71a will short against the complementary contact areas on the modified hemisphere resulting in leads 67 being shorted together.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. A retarded bomb fuze comprising:

first and second switches, said first switch coupled to a capacitor means for charging said capacitor means, said second switch coupled to a solenoid-actuated mechanical coupling means for releasing a bomb;

a third switch means;

a timed delay means;

said third switch means operable for coupling said capacitor means to said timed delay means upon release of said bomb;

said timed delay means operable for firing a detonator in said bomb.

2. The retarded bomb fuze of claim 1 and further including: an all-attitude impact switch coupled between said capacitor means and said detonator upon release of said bomb.

3. The retarded bomb fuze of claim 2 wherein: said all-attitude impact switch is tethered and released from the bomb housing upon release of said bomb.

4. The retarded bomb fuze of claim 2 wherein: said all-attitude impact switch comprises first and second modified hemispheres having cut-away sections for creating an eccentric center of gravity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,318,926 10/1919 Settle 102-2 2,545,474 3/1951 Kurland et al. 102--70.2 2,853,010 9/1958 Bianchi et al. 10270.2 2,978,981 4/1961 Ruehlemann et al. 102-70.2 3,054,352 9/ 1962 Perdre'aux, Jr. et al.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner C. T. JORDAN, Assistant Examiner 

